Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or any of the cute characters in it...
Chapter Three: Training Day
Yusuke glared at the two girls sitting on the grass off to the side. Botan had a notebook and Etsuko a sketch pad. He grumbled to himself. He wouldn't get to challenge Etsuko and take revenge for their past two encounters. The girls giggled and he shot them and angry glare. They smiled at him and waved.
"Stupid girls! Quit staring!" he yelled in frustration. It only made the girls giggle harder.
Genkai arrived with Kurama and Hiei a short moment later. She motioned for Etsuko to approach her. Etsuko set her sketch pad down and walked over.
"Your pick." Genkai said quietly. Etsuko smirked and glanced at the four fighters standing there.
"Well, mother, if you insist." She pointed to Kurama, "How about fox and Kuwabara. I have a feeling this fight will end quickly, but Kuwabara needs the training."
"You two go sit over there with them." Genkai pointed to the sidelines.
"What's going on here, grandma? Why is Etsuko not fighting today?" Yusuke asked in annoyance.
"Are you challenging me?" Etsuko turned and stepped before him, "Are you still mad that I kicked your ugly face this morning?"
"That's right stupid girl!" he glared down hard into her face. Her bright blue eyes swelled with tears and she pouted, "Oh, what are you gonna cry now? I'm sorry, Etsuko I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
His eyes softened and she smiled sweetly, exactly what she wanted him to do. She punched him hard in the stomach, making him fall over backwards.
"Silly, Yusuke. You are so easily deceived." Etsuko took her place next to Botan and picked her sketch pad back up.
"Get up, Yusuke." Hiei kicked the spirit detective. He rolled his eyes as Yusuke stumbled to his feet. They joined the girls on the side.
"You two listen to me." Genkai stepped in between Kurama and Kuwabara, "There is no going overboard. I can't bring anyone back from the dead. I suggest you stick to hand to hand combat."
Kuwabara charged first, running in like a madman. Etsuko rolled her eyes at his pathetic display. He had no defense and Kurama easily dodged the simple attack. He staggered a bit and caught his balance only to be punched in his head by Kurama. The tall boy fell backwards. Kurama was at his side, kicking him in the ribcage. Etsuko stood and approached them.
"Hang on a minute." She shook her head and shoved Kurama back, "Stand up, Kuwabara."
"Etsuko, what are you doing?" Kuwabara strained, holding his sore ribs.
"This is wrong." She replied, "He's coming with me. Fox, you can fight one of the other two. We'll be inside."
"Genkai, can she do that?" Kurama asked as Etsuko forced Kuwabara back into the temple.
"She does what she wants." Genkai sighed and watched as well, "I can't control what she does. I don't have the right to."
"Genkai?" Kurama's voice was gentle. She shook her head.
"Hiei, why don't you fight Kurama?" Genkai stated, "Botan, continue writing for Etsuko."
Inside, Etsuko shoved Kuwabara into a training room. He looked at her as she removed her purple shirt and cracked her knuckles. He backed away protesting.
"Oh, no. I'm not fighting you, Etsuko." He replied, "I don't fight girls."
"You fucking moron. We're not fighting. I'm teaching." She snapped, "Your style is horrendous. You flail your arms too much and you lack any possible defense. You may have survived through the dark tournament, but it was on sheer luck and stupidity."
"Hey, that's not true!"
"What the hell was that out there then? You know fox is stronger and faster than you! Yet you still blindly charged at him!" she fixed her pink hair into a tight bun on her head, "I've been training since I was three. I think it is time to show you how to defend yourself from someone like fox."
"Wow, did Genkai train you for all those years?"
"Yeah, right! That old hag!" Etsuko scoffed, "This is the first time I've met her in person."
"I don't get it."
"I don't suppose you would." Etsuko stepped next to him, "Are you ready? I'm not gonna go slowly. You'll have to keep up with what I teach you."
"I'll do my best." Kuwabara nodded.
"Hiei, you are distracted." Kurama dodged his friend's attack, "What is bothering you?"
"Quit talking and fight, fox." He snapped. Kurama raised an eyebrow.
"You and Etsuko both call me that."
"Yeah, so what?"
"I don't understand why she does."
"She's been studying tapes from the dark tournament. She probably saw you as Youko."
"That would certainly explain a lot." Kurama dodged another attack, "But that doesn't explain your problem."
"I don't have a problem." Hiei punched Kurama's face and jumped back before Kurama could counterattack. Kurama steadied himself for another attack by Hiei.
"That's enough." Genkai's voice called out, "You two should rest awhile. Well, dimwit, it seems that I'll have to be your opponent today."
"Don't make yourself have a heart attack old lady." Yusuke stood and stretched.
"I won't."
"No, no, like this, Kuwabara." Etsuko showed him the proper stance and he sighed as he remembered, "This should do for today. It's so hot out. We should go swimming again."
"Shouldn't we see what the others are doing?" Kuwabara asked. Etsuko shrugged then pointed to the window.
"You should be able to watch them from over there."
Walking to the window, Kuwabara leaned out to watch the fight. His eyes opened wide with the excitement of the situation.
"Yusuke's fighting with your mom!" he yelled back. Etsuko rushed to the window and looked out.
"What?" she stared in amazement at how fast the two fighters were. She laughed as Yusuke ducked out of the way of Genkai's kick only to be punched instead, "I wish I had my sketch pad."
"Do you always draw?" Kuwabara looked over to her as she jumped onto the windowsill.
"If I get the chance to. It was one of my many studies I had as a child." Etsuko sighed, "I like to use many of my talents in my studies. I'm so flexible because of my training as a fighter and as a dancer."
"A dancer, huh? What type of dancer?"
"Not the type perverted boys like you like to think about." She retorted and laughed when he frowned, "Sorry about that, Kuwabara. Sometimes, guys just piss me off."
"I'm sorry if I did." Kuwabara shifted his attention back to the fight, "Who do you think will win."
"Yusuke has my mother's technique now. It's likely he'll be the victor if this were a real fight, however, this is just a small challenge. My mother will use her wits, something Yusuke obviously doesn't have much of."
"Urameshi is a pretty tough fighter. I should know he uses my face as a punching bag."
"Kuwabara, what can you tell me about Hiei? He is so much different than the rest of you." Etsuko eyed Hiei off on the sidelines. It was her first time seeing him without a shirt on.
"Shorty has a bad attitude. I wouldn't get on his bad side. I'm sure he'd beat up innocent kitties if they looked at him the wrong way."
"But is he really strong?"
"Yeah, he's strong and fast."
Etsuko looked down again and her eyes met with Hiei's. She shook her head. That one was definitely a mystery. He snapped his head to the side breaking the stare.
"Fuck you, Hiei!" Etsuko screamed down at him. His eyes came back to find hers and they were like fiery daggers. This made her smile, "What's your problem shorty? Cat got your tongue?"
"Etsuko, are you trying to get yourself killed?" Kuwabara stepped away from the window, "Hey, I thought we were going swimming?"
"Okay, Kuwabara." She broke from Hiei's glare and jumped down from the window, "Let's go then."
"It seems like Etsuko's trying to provoke you." Kurama laughed gently. Hiei stood and started walking away. He needed time to think.
"Where's he going?" Yusuke approached him, holding the right side of his face where he had been punched.
"He's frustrated, Yusuke. He finds Etsuko to be a challenge and he can't help but want to fight her." Kurama nodded as Genkai and Botan joined them, "He's trying really hard not to just attack her."
"How cute! They find each other to be a rival!" Botan clapped her hands together.
"How is that?" Yusuke looked confused and Botan giggled.
"Well, Etsuko is looking forward to certain battles. Especially the one with Hiei. Hiei, on the other hand, wants to find out where her strengths and weaknesses are. He knows nothing about her."
"I hope he doesn't assume that she is anything like me. He'll be in for a big surprise when she reveals her true style." Genkai bowed her head and walked away.
"You guys should go take showers! You stink!" Botan laughed and ran after Genkai.
Hiei heard the sound of splashing water and Etsuko's laughter. Glancing around the corner he found Etsuko and Kuwabara sitting on the rock and splashing their feet in the water. He snuck closer and listened to their conversation.
"So, tell me about Yukina." Etsuko spoke. Hiei's eyes widened, "Is she nice?"
"Yeah, she's really sweet." Kuwabara smiled with a dreamy look in his eyes. Hiei was ready to slice his head off with his katana, "She's polite and gentle and caring."
"And you love her?" Etsuko asked as she rose to her feet on the rock.
"I have loved her since I first laid my eyes on her." He answered, "What about you? Do you love someone?"
"I used to, but we're only friends now." She dove into the water and came up for air, "Maybe you know him. He was in the dark tournament. I believe he was the fox's opponent."
"He must have lost if he faced Kurama. Kurama didn't lose too many matches." Kuwabara said smugly, "Hey, who is he?"
"That doesn't matter now." Etsuko replied. Hiei eyed her suspiciously. She climbed back onto the rock, "Tell me more about Yusuke's girlfriend. What was her name again?"
"Oh, Keiko. She's pretty tough for a girl."
"Are you saying girls can't be tough?"
"Oh, no, that's not what I meant!" he jumped to his feet, "I didn't mean it like that! It's just that Keiko isn't a fighter like you and she spends most of her time studying and stuff!"
"Calm down, Kuwabara." Etsuko giggled. Hiei rolled his eyes, "Let's have a diving contest. You can dive right?"
"Yeah, I can dive."
"Good, the first one to the other side of the pond wins."
"Wins what?"
"I'll take that into consideration if you win." Etsuko nodded, "Ready?"
A few seconds after she said go, Etsuko found herself being shoved from behind and falling head first into the water. Kuwabara dived and swam with all of his might to the other side. Etsuko glared back at the rock and the person standing on it.
"I'm sorry. Did I make you fall?" Hiei said with a smirk. The furious look on her face was priceless and he was happy he had stooped so low to see her like this. She pulled herself onto the rock and confronted him.
"You could have hurt me you know!" she glared up into his crimson eyes.
"That was my intention." He retorted still holding his smirk. Etsuko sighed and stretched her arms over her head. Reaching for her loose, wet pink hair she twisted and squeezed the water out. Her eyes never left Hiei's. Finally she broke the gaze and turned to Kuwabara.
"Hey, Kuwabara, I have a great idea to compensate you for your win! I'm gonna go talk to my mother about it now." She turned and stopped next to Hiei, "I'm sure he'd be quite happy and a much stronger fighter if your sister were here."
She left Hiei staring at her back as she walked into the temple wrapping a towel around her waist as she went.
A/N: That's a bit longer....anyways as I was researching, I realized that Yusuke's mom is named Atsuko...Oops...oh well, Yusuke's mom will not be appearing anywhere in this story so my character Etsuko will be just fine...or will she? Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!!
